Genuine religious liberty
is one of the most remarkable legacies of the United States. We often do not
appreciate that this legacy is of recent origin. We look in vain though
history for another state, country or community whose laws enshrined genuine
religious liberty. Here is a little background.

Liberty and the Ancient World

In all ancient cultures, religious order and governmental authority were tied
together. The gods of one's tribe were tied to ancestors, to the chief of
the tribe, and to the elders. They were totally intertwined. The idea of
any separation was not on the horizon of human consciousness. Some Greek
philosophers questioned and sometimes even mocked the common religious ideas
of their day. However, the people were still expected to show loyalty to the
city or polis by participating in temple rights and sacrifices. It was part
of civic duty ...